Italian police beat England supporters with batons as they tried to enter the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples for the match against Italy.
A new video shows the moment Italian police 'attacked England fans' before the Euro 2024 match between Italy and England in Naples.
The Three Lions began their qualifying run for the European Championship next summer with a grueling away match against the group that defeated them in the final in the summer of 2021.
There was genuine worry of supporter disturbance as the game was being played. Fans were charged by Italian police with batons as they waited in line to enter the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in Naples, according to video obtained by Mirror Sport.
According to eyewitness accounts, one elderly man was knocked out as police waded among England's traveling fans before the first Euro 2024 qualifying match.
It was unknown what caused the disturbance but calm was immediately restored before it evolved into something even more catastrophic.
Before the game, tensions were raised when a traveling England supporter was photographed holding a flag bearing a tribute to the late Diego Maradona. The city was flooded with tributes to the two-time World Cup winner when the Argentine passed away in September 2020. He had led Napoli to their last Serie A championship in 1990.
The unidentified fan, who is said to be a member of the official England fan club, was photographed with an England flag that read "Diego's in a box." The Italian police threatened to identify him if he tried to enter the stadium, and the FA later confirmed that his ticket had been blocked for the match.
During the first half of the game, a small portion of spectators occasionally sang the same slogan. Maradona, who scored the famed ‘Hand of God’ goal against England for Argentina at the 1986 World Cup, is very much adored in Naples for his part in leading Napoli to two league titles and the UEFA Cup.
Before the game began, there were rumors that many of the 2,700 away supporters were being crammed onto buses and driven out from the stadium. Those who did enter the stadium were treated to a breath-taking first half during which the Three Lions built a two-goal advantage.
After Harry Kane's goal-bound attempt was stopped after 13 minutes, Declan Rice gave the visitors the lead by converting a corner. Prior to the halftime, Kane added his record-breaking 54th goal for England to make it 2-0.
When England was given a penalty, Kane had the opportunity to not only break the record but also put his missed penalty in the World Cup defeat to France behind him.
Referee Srdjan Jovanonic pointed to the spot after consulting his pitchside monitor, and a VAR review determined that Giovanni Di Lorenzo had committed a handball. The captain of England took the opportunity and executed flawlessly, sending Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way to score an unprecedented 54th goal for England.
Nevertheless, everything changed in the second half as the defending European champions forced their way back into the game. 11 minutes after the half, Mateo Retegui cut the Italians' deficit in half but England clung to their lead for the remainder of time.